+ Brother Joseph

Our confrere, Brother Joseph Barzantni, died peacefully during the night of January 7-8, in the Marmion Abbey infirmary after a protracted period of lung cancer. He was 78 years old and was a professed monk of the Abbey since 1954.

Brother Joseph served the Abbey and Academy in a variety of roles over the years. He served continuously as the monastic tailor from the 1960s. He was also in charge of the Uniform Store, first at the Academy Butterfield Rd. Resident School and then after the merger of the day and resident schools in the early 1970s. From the early 1990s he was resident at the Marycrest House on Academy grounds, where he also had his tailor shop. His small white Nissan car was a familiar sight as he drove back and forth to the abbey. Brother Joseph, always an early riser, would help with opening the doors of the school before the days of security systems.

Brother Joseph served the monastic community in recent years as Procurator and Greeter at Community liturgies. He also spent time at Benedictine University in campus ministry. He was known for his smile and warm hospitality. Please pray for the repose of the soul of Brother Joseph. Funeral arrangements will be announced shortly